Chapter 96
The Lion Fountain That Grants Wishes.
At its center stood a magnificently carved lion’s face wearing a helmet, and around it were several smaller statues of horses and deer.
They symbolized great beings—representations of various gods.
As always, water poured endlessly from the central fountain, and thanks to a magic formula, the water remained clear and pristine. Beneath the surface, coins could be seen scattered across the bottom.
“Wow…… there really are coins. Quite a lot of them.”
“The rumor says it grants wishes. The people of Denimarad do not seem particularly interested, but they say it is a must-see for tourists.”
“Oh my. I suppose everyone has many wishes they want fulfilled. Is this some kind of tradition?”
“It is said that originally fires were lit in the plaza as offerings to great beings. Over time, it was simplified and remained in this form.”
“Lord Heinen, you know quite a bit about such things. Whether it comes true or not, shall we make a wish as well?”
Four familiar faces gathered before the fountain, whispering among themselves.
Shen and Cahena, and though they had not attended the party, Yujelia and Heinen had properly accompanied them this time as well.
Along with them was one private soldier of House Reschenhardt.
Astia had gone to attend to matters with the Imperial Knights, and Ianpel had gone with Chelsey to visit the Temple of the Sun in the capital.
Thus, those present were, at the very least, the people most familiar to Aquila.
“Young Master, would you like to make a wish as well? Shall I give you a coin?”
“It is fine. I have no wish to make.”
In the end, every coin thrown in would become imperial property.
Aquila had no desire to contribute money to that side.
“Truly? Then I shall make a wish on your behalf, that you regain your health.”
“In that case, I shall pray that you never collapse again.”
Shen beamed brightly, and Yujelia rummaged through her pocket for a coin.
Watching the two of them toss coins into the fountain, Aquila let out a quiet chuckle.
No matter how they behaved, there were moments when their youth showed plainly—endearing, in its own way.
‘A wish…….’
As Cahena and the private soldier joined them, Aquila turned his head and looked up at the sky.
The weather was exceptionally clear.
There were few clouds, and the sunlight felt as warm as the sky above Igrail.
Perhaps because the Lion Fountain stood in the central plaza, quite a number of people milled about.
People gathered in groups, chatting with bright expressions…….
If not for his appointment with Ark, he might have allowed himself a moment of leisure.
Unfortunately, he had no such luxury.
He checked his condition once more, adjusting the light coat he wore for the outing.
Before leaving by carriage, he had taken advantage of Shen stepping away to fasten the small bag’s strap inside his vest so it would not be visible.
He had then rotated the bag so the pouch rested against his lower back and concealed it beneath the tail of his coat.
Fortunately, its contents were not large enough to show through the fabric.
After confirming with his hand that the bag remained in place, Aquila lowered his arm.
‘……We did not set a specific time. Am I simply supposed to stand here?’
He removed his hat briefly, adjusted his hair, and placed it back on.
For a fleeting moment, his red hair was exposed before disappearing once more beneath the hat.
Though it was only an instant, several onlookers noticed and turned their gazes toward him, uncertain whether they had truly seen what they thought they had.
Whether they stared or not, it did not matter.
It was a signal: if you are coming, come quickly.
He had refrained from changing his hair color solely for that reason.
Of course, there was also the matter of avoiding revealing that he could use high-level magic to the many watchful eyes around him.
‘He might disguise himself as a merchant, or perhaps as a noble. Or maybe a quest will appear asking for assistance in such a manner…….’
Aquila sat near the fountain, quietly watching the cascading water.
It was then that someone approached him.
A small child.
Perhaps because it was still daytime, a young flower-selling girl carrying a basket filled with colorful blossoms walked straight toward them.
“Hello!”
At first, Aquila assumed she was a child sent by Ark Batchel.
She had walked directly to them without sparing a glance elsewhere.
Of course, Aquila’s attire appeared clean and affluent enough to justify such an approach.
Yet armored guards stood nearby—why would such a small child deliberately come here to sell flowers?
Naturally, Aquila assumed Ark had asked something of her.
As the girl approached, the guards surrounding him did not interfere.
She barely reached Cahena’s waist in height.
And as expected, she lifted her basket of flowers.
“Flowers! Please buy some flowers. I will sell them cheaply.”
It was Yujelia and Heinen who reacted first to the girl’s bold manner.
“The flowers you have are quite lovely. I will buy one.”
“Indeed. May I have one as well?”
Yujelia immediately bent down to meet the girl at eye level, and Heinen added his words in a gentler tone than usual.
Aquila stared intently at the flower girl.
If she had been given a request, she would have glanced at him—but she seemed entirely focused on selling flowers.
‘……Am I mistaken?’
Aquila narrowed his eyes.
“This flower is pretty as well. Do you have anything else?”
“Then this one! It is the one I recommend the most!”
As he continued watching, something felt off.
The girl’s clothing was clean—without dust, wrinkles, or stains.
As though she had just taken it out for the first time.
“……Oh. What kind of flower is this? I have never seen one shaped like this.”
Yujelia examined the flower the girl handed her and extended her hand to accept it.
Drawn by the admiration in her voice, Aquila shifted his gaze from the child’s face to the flower.
The instant he saw it—
Smack!
“Eek!”
“Ah! Y-Young Master?”
Yujelia spun around in shock.
Aquila had swiftly struck aside the flower she was about to grasp.
Yet despite his sudden action, his expression was cold and severe.
“It is a poisonous flower.”
“What?”
“‘Three-Forked Tongue.’ If you inhale its scent, your entire body becomes paralyzed.”
Named for its long petals split at the ends like a serpent’s tongue—‘Three-Forked Tongue.’
Its distinctive shape, along with the yellow petals mottled with black spots, made it unmistakable.
It was a flower Aquila would never confuse.
The girl’s small hands flushed red as her eyes widened.
Tears welled briefly in her eyes at his harsh reaction—but the moment she heard his words, her gaze turned cold.
“Ah. I have been found out……?”
The girl plunged her hand into the basket and instantly drew out a hidden knife, charging toward Aquila.
Claaang!
Shen had already drawn a dagger from his sleeve and intercepted the strike.
“Ugh! What strength is this—!”
“Tch!”
For such a small frame, her strength was overwhelming; Shen’s wrist trembled.
Clicking her tongue, the girl leapt backward lightly.
With her plan exposed, she clearly intended to flee.
“Cahena!”
“Yes, sir!”
Those present had no intention of letting her escape.
Cahena’s body blurred in an instant.
The next moment, she appeared before the girl like lightning.
Crash!
She seized the girl and slammed her into the ground.
“Ghk……!”
Boom!
The force was so great that the stone pavement of the plaza cracked and caved inward.
Even so, the girl twisted her entire body in resistance, but she could not break free from Cahena’s grip.
Perhaps she might have succeeded if she had exploited a moment of carelessness—but Cahena was on the verge of becoming a High-Ranking Sword Expert.
Without mercy, she pinned the back of the girl’s head and wrenched her arm behind her as though to tear her shoulder free.
Then Cahena saw it.
A mark shaped like the fangs of a beast, precisely engraved on the back of the girl’s neck.
“She is a member of the Guild of Darkness. That mark is on her neck.”
“My goodness! A child like that…….”
Yujelia, still unable to process what had just happened, stared in disbelief.
It was hard to believe such a small child belonged to the Guild of Darkness.
But Aquila shook his head.
“There is magic that can make one’s body resemble that of a child. Black Magic, of course.”
“……There truly are all sorts of strange spells. Ah! Should we summon the Royal Guard?”
Frowning, Shen sheathed his dagger and ran toward Cahena.
‘……Tch. I was so focused on Ark that I forgot the Guild of Darkness still targets me.’
Aquila’s brow furrowed deeply.
This was unquestionably his mistake.
Had he noticed any later, Yujelia would certainly have been paralyzed on the ground—Heinen perhaps less so.
It seemed they had intended to eliminate those around him first.
“What shall we do with this?”
As the private soldier gathered the fallen knife and basket, Heinen knelt and pointed to the ‘Three-Forked Tongue’ flower.
Aquila immediately shook his head.
“That should be burned somewhere unpopulated, or—”
“‘Three-Forked Tongue,’ you say. Quite bold to carry something so dangerous.”
“……!”
Startled by the voice that sounded suddenly beside his ear, Aquila spun around.
The first thing he saw was long, unruly black hair.
“Ah……!”
“But such creatures can be unexpectedly useful. As you know. They are good at drawing attention.”
Eyes as calm and deep as a lake regarded him.
There had been no presence—none at all.
It must have been the unique movement of a Sword Master.
Even so, he had appeared this close.
Cahena or Heinen might attack him at any moment.
Aquila turned to restrain them.
“Wait, hold— …what?”
There was no need.
Aquila looked around stiffly.
Everything within his sight had stopped.
Cahena and Shen, who had been lifting the girl.
Yujelia, hands clasped together.
Heinen watching him.
The people around them.
Even the faint breeze……
All frozen.
Like a photograph halted in time.
‘Wait. Back then as well…….’
A memory flickered.
The well where he had first met Ark.
Had not every surrounding sound vanished then as well?
“What in the world, you…….”
Rarely flustered, Aquila turned his gaze.
Ark stood before him, expression unchanged.
“Did you bring everything needed for the East?”
“What?”
“The poison. And the arrowheads I gave you.”
Reflexively, Aquila reached behind his back and touched the small bag hidden beneath his coat.
The contents were there.
“You did. Still thorough, I see.”
“Ark, you…… did you make a contract with the God of Time?”
Despite the question, Ark did not open his mouth to answer.
The protagonist of this world wished only to focus on what he had to do.
So he said simply:
“It will hurt.”
“What?”
“But you can endure it. You have endured countless pains. Still…….”
Stepping forward, Ark suddenly tugged at Aquila’s clothes and hooked a finger through the chain around his neck, pulling it free.
Eye of Igdrein.
The treasured artifact of House Reschenhardt entrusted to him by Lexenbert Fad Reschenhardt emerged into view.
“Because you have this.”
“Hey, Ark. Stop talking and listen to me—!”
“So you will not die, Aquila.”
Ark cut him off, his gaze unwavering.
For a fleeting moment, Aquila faltered under that look—so terribly similar to the trust Ark once held for him.
Thrust!
“Absolutely.”
With a sickening sound, he felt something pierce through his chest.